Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus includes an apparatus body, an opening/closing member supported on the apparatus body, a sheet support supported on the opening/closing member, and a rotary feeding member provided on the apparatus body to feed the sheet supported on the sheet support in a feeding direction. A first engagement member is provided in the apparatus body, and a second engagement member is provided on a downstream end portion of the sheet support in the feeding direction and engages with the first engagement member in a vertical direction that intersects an axial direction of the rotary feeding member when the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position. The rotary feeding member is lowered toward the sheet supported on the sheet support in a case where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body; 
 an opening/closing member supported on the apparatus body and configured to open and close with respect to the apparatus body; 
 a sheet support supported on the opening/closing member and configured to support a sheet in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at an open position where the opening/closing member is opened with respect to the apparatus body; 
 a rotary feeding member provided on the apparatus body and configured to feed the sheet supported on the sheet support in a feeding direction; 
 a first engagement member provided in the apparatus body; and 
 a second engagement member provided on a downstream end portion of the sheet support in the feeding direction, the second engagement member being configured to engage with the first engagement member in a vertical direction that intersects an axial direction of the rotary feeding member in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position, 
 wherein the rotary feeding member is lowered toward the sheet supported on the sheet support in a case where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position, 
 the first engagement member is a hole portion, and 
 the second engagement member is configured to position the sheet support in a vertical direction by being in contact with an upper edge of the hole portion in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position. 
 
     
     
       2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement member is configured not to be engaged with the first engagement member in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at a closed position where the opening/closing member is closed with respect to the apparatus body. 
     
     
       3. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second engagement member is a claw portion configured to engage with the hole portion, and 
 the claw portion is configured to position the sheet support in the vertical direction by being in contact with an edge portion of the hole portion in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position. 
 
     
     
       4. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus body comprises a guide comprising a guide surface configured to guide the sheet fed by the rotary feeding member, and
 the first engagement member is provided on the guide. 
 
     
     
       5. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus body comprises a conveyor configured to convey the sheet fed by the rotary feeding member, and a separation mechanism configured to form a separation nip, which separates the sheet from another sheet, together with the conveyor,
 the guide is configured to guide the sheet toward the separation nip, and 
 the guide is configured to retain the separation mechanism. 
 
     
     
       6. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third engagement member provided in the apparatus body; and 
 a fourth engagement member provided on the downstream end portion of the sheet support, the fourth engagement member being configured to engage with the third engagement member in the feeding direction in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position. 
 
     
     
       7. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the fourth engagement member is a surface configured to abut against the third engagement member in the feeding direction in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position. 
     
     
       8. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet support comprises a supporting surface configured to support the sheet, and
 the opening/closing member is configured to support the sheet support movably in a direction along the supporting surface. 
 
     
     
       9. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising an interlocking mechanism configured to move the sheet support in a direction along the supporting surface in an interlocked manner with opening and closing of the opening/closing member,
 wherein the interlocking mechanism is configured to move the sheet support such that the second engagement member is separated from the first engagement member in a case where the opening/closing member is opened with respect to the apparatus body. 
 
     
     
       10. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet support is supported pivotably by the opening/closing member. 
     
     
       11. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement member comprises a first engaging part and a second engaging part configured to be arranged in parallel in the axial direction,
 the first engaging part is configured to be arranged on one side with respect to the rotary feeding member in the axial direction, and 
 the second engaging part is configured to be arranged on the other side with respect to the rotary feeding member in the axial direction. 
 
     
     
       12. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet support is a manual feed tray on which a sheet is manually fed. 
     
     
       13. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 the sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ; and 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed by the sheet feeding apparatus. 
 
     
     
       14. The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus body includes a lifting member configured to liftably support the rotary feeding member in a vertical direction. 
     
     
       15. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body; 
 an opening/closing member supported on the apparatus body and configured to open and close with respect to the apparatus body; 
 a sheet support supported on the opening/closing member and configured to support a sheet in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at an open position where the opening/closing member is opened with respect to the apparatus body; 
 a rotary feeding member provided on the apparatus body and configured to feed the sheet supported on the sheet support in a feeding direction; 
 a first engagement member provided in the apparatus body; and 
 a second engagement member provided on a downstream end portion of the sheet support in the feeding direction, the second engagement member being configured to engage with the first engagement member in a vertical direction that intersects an axial direction of the rotary feeding member in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position, 
 wherein the rotary feeding member is lowered toward the sheet supported on the sheet support in a case where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position, 
 the sheet support comprises a supporting surface configured to support the sheet, and 
 the opening/closing member comprises a regulator configured to regulate a position of the sheet support in a normal direction of the supporting surface. 
 
     
     
       16. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body; 
 an opening/closing member supported on the apparatus body and configured to open and close with respect to the apparatus body; 
 a sheet support supported on the opening/closing member and configured to support a sheet in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at an open position where the opening/closing member is opened with respect to the apparatus body; 
 a rotary feeding member provided on the apparatus body and configured to feed the sheet supported on the sheet support in a feeding direction; 
 a first engagement member provided in the apparatus body; and 
 a second engagement member provided on a downstream end portion of the sheet support in the feeding direction, the second engagement member being configured to engage with the first engagement member in a vertical direction that intersects an axial direction of the rotary feeding member in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position, 
 wherein the rotary feeding member is lowered toward the sheet supported on the sheet support in a case where the opening/closing member is positioned at the open position, 
 the apparatus body comprises an opening below the opening/closing member in a state where the opening/closing member is positioned at a closed position with respect to the apparatus body, and 
 the sheet feeding apparatus further comprises a cover supported by the opening/closing member and configured to cover the opening.